According to AS, Barcelona are still trying to sign Julian Alvarez, although the deal is difficult and time is running out.
Barcelona's final push came when sporting director Deco met with the Argentine striker's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, in Madrid. This meeting led Barcelona to adjust their strategy for signing the striker; the club was no longer waiting for Julian to publicly declare his desire to transfer, as he had done in the mixed zone of the US World Cup, when he publicly stated that he "wanted to fulfill a dream."
Now, Barcelona will first take the communication and negotiation route. Julian will return to training when it's time to train, and will not make any public statements. Instead, he will meet with the head coach first, and then communicate with the team's management to clearly state that he wants to leave the Metropolitan Stadium and will only accept joining Barcelona.
Given that both Simeone and Miguel Ángel Hill have explicitly opposed letting the player go, it remains to be seen whether this route will bring opportunities. The parties involved will now need to assess whether to keep a player who has clearly stated his desire to leave, and he will likely remind the club that his agent has conveyed a promise: they will release him if they receive an attractive offer.
Julian believes Barcelona's offer is attractive to both sides, but Atletico Madrid doesn't agree. Normally, this round of communication between the player and the club should also be accompanied by Barcelona significantly increasing their financial offer for the Argentine striker. Barcelona's initial offer was less than €100 million, later increased to that figure, and is now around €120 million.
